Date Travelled : November 2006

Review Title : Basic , clean but a few problems. Your Rating 3 Stars. Made By David on 12/02/2007
The rooms at the Colonia de Braganza are basic but clean. You have to remember, however, that this is India. Standards are no where near as high as in Europe and some people may be put off with how basic things can be. However, my advice is to not be put off with the accommodation. As long as it's clean you should not complain!

My wife and I visited the hotel in November 2006 and we had a great time. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the manager is a good bloke.

Even in the nice parts of India you find squalor, people sleeping rough and rubbish in the streets.But this is how India is. If you can't cope with third world living then don't go to India.

The new wing of the hotel is clean and modern. The rooms are comfortable and have ceiling fans. The two women on the front desk are fantastic and nothing is too much trouble for them.

The resort is very touristy. I personally prefer somewhere quieter but I would stay here again as the quality of the hotel is fine and we love Goa so we will go back but we will probably try a different hotel next time.

Date Travelled : January

Review Title : CSM Your Rating 3 Stars. Made By Chris on 25/01/2008
This was the 3rd time we have stayed at this hotel which has always been on a half board basis,however this year the hotel has gone to bed and breakfast only, but is still charging the same prices and more for the old half board basis.I don't know if the hotel will now lose some of its regulars because of this. That said this is a great hotel, in a great location in Baga and more or less on the beach.The local staff are very good, especially Nick behind the bar.However the management that were present who were local and English did not really seem to be that bothered with inter acting with the guests and I think coupled with the change of board basis this hotel will lose some of its desirability. That said the facilities are good and I would recommend it even to the mother in law!

Date Travelled : 22 Dec 2008

Review Title : toilet Your Rating 1 Stars. Made By Vis on 07/01/2009
the worst , they should not even have beds - the beds are like sleeping on the floor. every morning for breakfast you can have anything , it just must be toast and tea/coffee. the staff are the worst, everything takes ages to be done.
the room is like living in the toilet - there is a incomplete wall between the iving area and he loo , you are always smelling the loo - its not a healthy place to holiday with children . we took our 2 children they are still sick from the stay at this hotel . i would suggest that you give this place a miss. this place should close down - the staff and manager would not listen to our complaint on the day we where leaving and ignored us completely. what a hotel , i have yet to stay in a hotel like this again in my life. think twice before you go to this one ---

Date Travelled : 24 Nov 2008

Review Title : Wonderful Holiday Your Rating 2 Stars. Made By Helen Hardy on 04/02/2009
This was my second visit to this hotel and my friend and I stayed in one of the newer blocks to this hotel. The room was very spacious and clean and although the furniture was basic it was o.k. except for the beds which were very hard with only a very narrow mattress, not comfortable at all. You must realise the difference in standard before you travel, don't expect high standards in a third world country, you either like it or loathe it. My friend and I love it, although I must confess that we don,t spend much time in the hotel, treating it only as a base as calangute is very commercialised, but a 40 minute taxi drive takes you to many more isolated beaches with even more basic accomodation. I cannot fault the hotel or staff, they are so polite and eager to please, but service is slow at breakfast, but then again who's in a hurry. Would go back again as it feels very familiar now.

Date Travelled : 1st march 09

Review Title : holiday 09 Your Rating 3 Stars. Made By fran n steve on 07/04/2009
2nd time to India and as many have said you either hate it or love it! Could not fault the hotel on arrival did not like the 1st room and asked to be moved to a newer block this was accommodated on the 2nd day, staff are all friendly and eager to please, breakfast is continental and a tip would be to take your own mug if you like a big cup of tea/coffee, food is very good and cheap especially the tandori nights!! Johny at the bar is great and will advise you on places to visit etc. Other places to go Electric Cats on way to Baga ask for Ramish good place for curries! Capricorn on way to beach good for Chinese and Xaviers Beach Shack do the best noodles ever. Are hoping to go back next year and would definately book at the Bragansa again remember you either love India or hate it! if you want Macdonalds and Burger King forget it stay in England!

Date Travelled : 4/11/2009

Review Title : hotel colonia de braganza Your Rating 2 Stars. Made By susan twigg on 13/02/2010
me my husband and two friends stayed in this hotel
wow what a time we had the staff from the cleaners right up to the management just cannot do enough to ensure you have the perfect holiday
nothing is to much trouble for them we are looking
to go back any time now although we have been to calangute many times and stayed in various hotels
we certainly will be going back to the bragaanza
immaculate

Date Travelled : 09/3/2010-18/3/2010

Review Title : General Your Rating 4 Stars. Made By SAV on 07/04/2010
THIS WAS A GOOD HOTEL WITH LOCAL BEACH, SHOPS ETC NEARBY, GOOD ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND BUSES, GOOD FOOD NEARBY

Date Travelled : 6th Dec 09 - 4th Jan 10

Review Title : Loved this hotel :) Your Rating 5 Stars. Made By Ella on 02/06/2010
we have been to Goa three times and the past two times we stayed at the Beira Mar, but on the third time we decided to stay at the Colonia De Braganza, we didnt know what to expect, we read a few reviews but still wasnt sure, we got there at around 4am and the staff were very helpful in getting our bags to our rooms and sorting out all information and the papers we had to fill in, and the staff i reception were asleep behind the desk and they gladly got up to show us everything we needed to know. we got to our rooms and we loved them, much better than the Beira Mar, they have a seperate front room, kitchen area, bedroom and bathroom. also we had two balconies, we were very very pleased with the room we got. the beds may be a bit hard, but you get used to it after about a week. you have to remember this is India and its a third world country you cant expect 5star, most of the hotels in India are 2star. also you are hardly ever in the hotel room anyway so personally i dont really mind what the room looks like as long as its clean, all you do in the room is sleep and get showered and changed. the staff could be a bit more friendly as in the Beira Mar we were very very friendly with the staff we knew all their names and got to know them quiet well, but at the Colonia we didnt really get to know them, the manager Jon is a very nice man though and is very helpful and the men at reception are very nice, the woman could be a bit more friendly though as they are very quiet. overall this hotel is a very very good hotel and we was there over christmas for 4weeks, and hopefully we are going back this year over christmas again for 4weeks.

Date Travelled : February 2006

Review Title : The Beaches of Goa Your Rating 5 Stars. Made By David on 23/12/2006
The Indian state of Goa has become a firm favourite with UK holidaymakers in recent years, particularly for its stunning beaches, dramatic architecture and carefree spirit.

Located on the country's south west coast, it is synonymous with partying and beach holidays, but also has an array of other sights and experiences for travellers. Portuguese traders first landed on the shores of Goa in the 1500s and the area existed as a Portuguese colony for centuries, until it was annexed as part of India in 1961.

Goa has more than 20 delightful stretches of white sand beach down its 101km long coastline, some of which are crowded year round with holidaymakers, while others present secluded palm-fringed paradises for those seeking a quieter break. Every type of traveller and size of wallet is catered for and accommodation along the coast ranges from five star hotels to palm-leaf shacks. Goa is now India's richest state and has seen a huge influx from neighbouring areas in recent years.

Calangute and Baga in northern Goa are heavily developed resorts and full of the usual tourist amenities, the south offers simpler and more peaceful resorts like Colva and Benaulim, while partygoers head to Anjuna, Vagator, and Chapora.

Goa was famous as the hangout for hippy travellers and the psychedelic generation during the 1960s and 1970s and it still attracts similar visitors as well as more conventional tourists, luxury travellers and backpackers, and there are a number of popular yoga resorts in the north of the state.

The Portuguese influence is widespread and food in Goa is a delicious blend of meat and fish cooked with Indian spices in a way unique to the region. Alcohol is freely available in the state and Goa produces large quantities of rice and coconuts, which feature in many of the dishes.

The ruins of the former Portuguese capital at Old Goa are a key tourist attraction, with an exotic mix of European and Indian architecture and a number of quaint churches and cathedrals. The influence of early Portuguese merchants can also be seen at the ruins of Fort Aguada in north Goa and the Bom Jesus Basilica, which houses the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier.

Goa has a number of charming market towns, as well as the bustling state capital Panaji. Vasco-de-Gama, the largest town in the state, has some interesting colonial and native architecture, while the town of Anjuna has a popular weekly flea market. Other towns of interest include Margao, Marmagao, and Mapusa. The state is dotted with ornate and colourful Hindu temples and holds a number of lavish annual Hindu and Christian celebrations.

As India's smallest state, Goa represents a manageable slice of the vast country and has just 1.4 million inhabitants. Inland visitors can walk in the Western Ghats range of mountains, a world biodiversity hotspot, visit numerous estuaries and river valleys, and a number of small islands. Its tropical jungles in the east of the state are home to bright birds, wild boars and the region has a large snake population. The Salim Ali Bird sanctuary is particularly interesting, with its exotic mynas and parrots.

Visitors to Goa generally arrive by air or travel to the state from the Indian capital Mumbai. The Konkan Railway line, built during the 1990s, runs parallel to the coast between Mumbai and Goa. Once in the state, public transport largely consists of buses, unmetered taxis, auto rickshaws and the state's unique yellow-and-black motorcycle taxis.

Goa's official language is Konkani, but many Indians speak English and travellers will not struggle to get around the more heavily populated areas. The country has a warm and humid climate for most of the year, with temperatures hottest in May and a cooler spell between December and February. The annual monsoon season starts in early June and runs to late September.

Date Travelled : Dec 1998

Review Title : Great Goa Your Rating 5 Stars. Made By Gordon on 10/09/2007
This was a great holiday go on the tours see the whole of Goa get a suit and more from Mujipe down by the beach just wonderful,
The food was a litle different - Don't expect fillet of chicken in your curry dishes as they use the whole bird - even the shacks on the beach sell great food
Top stars all round

Date Travelled : 23/02/2008

Review Title : goa calangute Your Rating 5 Stars. Made By Sachin Radia on 11/05/2008
The holiday was a great experience. We stayed in the braganza for 2 weeks in the c block rooms. Had ceiling fans and a great large size family rooms. The staff are excellent and there are taxi drivers outside the hotel to take you wherever you want. Market down the road is great, but advisable to bargain. baga beach is where its all happening but for a bit of peace and quiet calangute beach is ok. The hotel has 2 pools and is clean. The bar shuts around 11pm. Has live entertainment some nights. People are friendly but the traffic is hectic!!! Lots of culture great experience.